A liquid-filled (encased in a plastic membrane), wire-boned Slinky which, due to the low and carefully-adjusted viscosity of the liquid, is able to push itself a few feet on a flat surface. Not much more fun than a normal Slinky, and a commercial flop.
-- oatcake, May 06 2003

A robot-powered Slinky. http://www.ai.mit.e...98/mattw-iros98.pdf
[Amos Kito, Oct 05 2004]

//commercial flop// hee hee
-- po, May 06 2003


Resistance is futile
-- thumbwax, May 06 2003


[thumbwax] So [8th] has finally turned you?
-- silverstormer, May 06 2003


Regular Slinkys are powered by gravity. If you want your invention to propel itself, it needs some source of energy. Encasing it with liquid and plastic ain't gonna help any.
-- DrCurry, May 06 2003


CUSTARD !! WHERE's the CUSTARD !! +
-- mahatma, May 06 2003


I think we may probably have eaten it all by now.
-- po, May 06 2003


I want so much to like this. Self-propelled Slinky is a great idea, but as [Curry] pointed out, it needs something to make it go. Can't we somehow motorize it or (heaven forbid) piezo-ize it or something?
-- snarfyguy, May 06 2003


Some sort of moving weight that throws itself around dragging the slinky along with?
-- bristolz, May 06 2003


a wee little skinny worm or a few little skinny worms running through it...
-- po, May 06 2003


Put a few goldfish inside. That'll get it going.
-- lintkeeper2, May 06 2003


maglev technology.
-- po, May 06 2003


magnolia technology. ooohh uuummm don't that just smell lovely mmmm, ducky.
-- po, May 06 2003


Magnum technology. Just pull the trigger.
-- lurch, May 06 2003


//If you want your invention to propel itself, it needs some source of energy. Encasing it with liquid and plastic ain't gonna help any.//

"Push it and watch it go...for a short while, at least."

Your finger is the source of energy.
-- oatcake, May 06 2003



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